Apparatus for printing with master cards

ABSTRACT

An addressing machine using the hectograph transfer principle in which a motor drives the copy translating system while the moisture roller and card dispensing system are actuated by rotation of an auxiliary shaft intercoupled with the motor by means of a positive engagement clutch and a phase angle adjustment which permits adjustment of the angular position of the auxiliary shaft at the beginning of every moistening and card dispensing cycle. This system obviates the need for a second clutch device and/or an electronic time delay circuit with provision for adjusting the time delay between sensing of a copy and actuation of the auxiliary shaft.

[ 1 Sept. 2, 1975 APPARATUS FOR PRINTING WITH MASTER CARDS George E.Shepherd, Dollard des Ormeaux, Canada [73] Assignee: P.S.M. HoldingsLtd., Quebec,

Canada [22] Filed: May 11, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 359,515

[75] Inventor:

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 31, 1972 Canada 155303 [52]US. Cl. ..101/53; 101/132.5; 101/235 [51] int. C1 B411 47/24; B411 47/46[58] Field of Search 192/28, 33 R, 125 A; 101/53, 235, 245, 132, 132.5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,456,928 12/1948 Curtis192/28 2,858,388 10/1958 Eastman 192/28 3,053,176 9/1962 Shepherd 101/533,230,871 1/1966 Kooch et al. 101/53 3,245,342 4/1966 Wright 101/132.5

3,420,162 1/1969 Shepherd 101/53 3,444,807 5/1969 Kooch 101/53 3,547,02712/1970 Gombault t. 101/53 3,581,856 6/1971 Fleckerlstein 192/283,640,215 2/1972 Shepherd 101/53 Primary Examiner-Edgar S.. BurrAssistant Examiner-William Pieprz Attorney, Agent, or FirmBacon & Thomas[5 7] ABSTRACT An addressing machine using the hectograph transferprinciple in which a motor clrives the copy translating system while themoisture roller and card dispensing system are actuated by rotation ofan auxiliary shaft intercoupled with the motor by means of a positiveengagement clutch and a phase angle adjustment which permits adjustmentof the angular position of the auxiliary shaft at the beginning of everymoistening and card dispensing cycle.

This system obviates the need for a second clutch device and/or anelectronic time delay circuit with provision for adjusting the timedelay between sensing of a copy and actuation of the auxiliary shaft.

11 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures |2 102 HO 5 1o 5; 1 50 y 116 5 Bl i lsoAPPARATUS FOR PRINTING WITH MASTER CARDS This invention relates toapparatus for printing with master cards, particularly addressingmachines using the known hectographic transfer process, and theinvention particularly appartains to electrically operated addressingapparatus.

The hectographic transfer process is well known and still widely used inthe field of duplication by means of master cards. A number of suchaddressing machines are commercially available either in manual orelectrically operable version. The addressing machine supports a stackof master cards on which the names and addresses to be duplicated havealready been printed and the machine has three main functions. namelythe translation of copy along a predetermined copy path, the moisteningof a predetermined area on each successive copy and finally, theapplication of one particular pre-addressed card onto the moistened areaof the copy by means of pressure for effecting transfer of the printedmaterial directly onto the copy. One particular example of a manualaddressing machine is found in Canadian Pat. No. 892,140 issued Feb. 1,1972 to George E. Shepherd for an invention entitled AddressingMachine". In this particular system. a hand operated crank rotates amain shaft to which are directly coupled the copy translating means onthe one hand. and the moisture roller and card dispensing means on theother hand, provision being made for physically pre-positioning of thecopy prior to actuation of the hand crank.

In electrically operated addressing machines with which this inventionis more particularly concerned, an electric motor continuously drivesthe copy translating means and a transmission is used for intermittentlyactuating the auxiliary shaft which drives the moisture ap plicationmeans and the card dispensing means. Synchronization of the operation ofthe auxiliary shaft with the leading edge of the copy is effected eitherby means of two serially connected clutches or alternatively by means ofa single clutch with an adjustable electrical time delay circuit so thatthe addressed area on the successive copy can be adjusted to suit thevarious requirements and it is also important to ensure that thesuccessive copies will all be addressed at the exact same positionbecause a slight error in location which may not be too apparent in thecase of relatively large copy may become completely unacceptable in thecase of relatively small envelopes.

A main object of this invention is to provide an electric addressingmachine which operates with a single clutch and which does notnecessitate the use ofa relatively complex electronic time delayadjustment. but in which machine means is provided for adjusting thelocation of the addressed portion of the copy.

A second object is the provision of an electric addressing machine ofsimple construction using as few components as possible and which can beeasily operated and maintained.

In accordance with this invention, a printing machine is provided whichis operated by an electric motor. which comprises copy translating meansdriven by the electric motor by a first transmission. an auxiliary shaftfor driving the moistening roller and the card dispensing means. and asecond transmission for intermittently rotating the auxiliary shaftthrough an angle of 360 from a predetermined starting angular positionwhich transmission includes a single positively engaging clutch inaddition to means for mechanically adjusting the angular position of theauxiliary shaft at the beginning of each cycle.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate an exemplary preferredembodiment in accordance with this invention,

FIG. I is a side elevation view of an addressing machine with partsbroken away to facilitate understanding of the operation of the machine.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the single positive engagement clutch andtriggering system which are disposed on the opposite side of the machineas seen in FIG. I, the positive engagement clutch being illustrated inthe disengaged and stopped position.

FIG. 3 is a further illustration of portions of the positive engagementclutch seen in FIG. 2 but in somewhat enlarged proportions and shown inthe fully engaged condition.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the auxiliary shaft with means foractuating the moisture roller and the card dispensing system shown onthe left hand side of the shaft and the positive engagement clutchlocated toward the right of the Figure. and

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the electrical sensing and triggeringcircuit.

With reference to FIG. 1, the addressing machine shown therein comprisesa housing structure 10 having a lower portion 11 and an upper portion12, the lower portion housing the electric motor 15 and the copytranslating means which comprises rollers 16, 17 and 18 and a chaindrive 19 which interconnects the copy translating rollers 16 to 18 tothe drive sprocket 20 of electric motor 15. A tensioning roller 21 isused for adjusting the tension in the chain. The lower frame portion 11also supports the upper frame portion 12 into which are incorporated amoistening means 30, a card dispensing means 32, an auxiliary shaft 34which carries a crank 36 for operating the card dispensing means via rod37, together with a cam 38 which operates the moistening means. Springbiased nip rollers and 46 apply pressure onto the upper portion of cardtranslating rollers 16 and 17 to force any copy inbetween to move fromthe entry end 50 to the discharge end 51 along copy path 52. Hence niprollers 45 and 46 are suitably spring biased such as by leaf spring 47and leaf spring 48. j i

From the card dispensing means, the pre-addressed master cards followdown card path with is defined by means ofa suitably wide and thin stripof spring steel extending from the card dispensing means 32 to the carddischarge end 61.

Towards the intermediate portion of card path 60, a spring biased rollerbearing against the upper portion of the last copy translating roller 18serves to apply pressure onto the master card which rests upon a portionof the copy since the two paths converge and meet at that point andsince the spring steel strip 60 is pro vided with a sufficiently widecentral aperture permitting direct contact of the master card and copyunder lying same.

A pair of card extractor rollers 66 and 67 resiliently urged towards oneanother by means of springs 68 and driven into rotation by means of asuitable drive 69 extracts the card from the applicator rollers 65 and18 to free and discharge same into a suitable receiving bin (not shown).

In operation, copy arriving at entry end 50 is picked up between rollers45 and 16 and caused to move towards the right end side of FIG. 1 untilthe leading edge is picked up again by rollers 46 and 17 which rotate inthe same direction and generally at the same linear speed as rollers 45and 16, and at a predetermined point of the translation of the copymoisture roller system 30 is caused to bear against the upper surface ofthe copy to apply moisture over an area thereof and the card dispensingsystem 32 starts feeding the lowest card in stack 33 until same ispicked up by applicator rollers 65 and 18 and at that point the copy isalready partly through the same rollers so that the card overlies themoistened area of the copy and both sheets pass between rollers 65 and18 where transfer of the printed matter on the master card onto the copyis effected. Beyond that point, the copy proceeds towards .the dischargeend 51 along path 52 while the master card is forced to follow adiverging section of path 60 until picked up and extracted by rollers 66and 67 and finally discharged at 61 into a receiving bin (not shown).

Moistening means 30 comprises a moistening roller :70 against which asuitable wick 71 brushes, which wick is in communication with a supplyof a solvent such as methanol. Roller 70 and wick 71 are mounted to aroller carrier 72 which is pivoted as at 73 at its free end unto aportion of the addressing machine structure, and the intermediate regionof the carrier 72 is engageable with cam 38 mounted to the auxiliaryshaft 34. Cam 38 will force the carrier and roller 70 downwardly uponcounter-clockwise rotation of auxiliary shaft 34 as shown by arrow 75. Areturn spring 76 will cause carrier 72 to follow the cam 38 causingroller 70 to leave the copy beyond the lobe portion of cam 38.

Card dispensing means 32 comprises a holding structure 80 which isstationary and which is adapted to receive a stack of master cards suchas at 33 which are urged downwardly against holder 80 by means of asuitable weight 81. A reciprocating dispensing plate 82 disposed into agroove in the center of holder 80 is interconnected with crank 36 bymeans of rod 37 so as to effect a reciprocating motion as auxiliaryshaft 34 is caused to rotate through single revolutions. Dispenser 82 isprovided with a ramp 83 terminating into a shoulder 84 which issufficiently high to positively grab the lowest master card in stack 33but which is one or two thousandths of an inch lower than the thicknessof each card thereby to pass below the stack 33 when moving downwardlyalong holder 80. Towards the other end of the holder 80, a separatingbar 85 is provided which is adjustably secured a short distance over theleading portion of dispenser 82 forming a gap into which one card at atime can pass to thereafter proceed along card path 60 towards niproller 65.

It will be appreciated that in an electric addressing machine of thistype, since the copy translating system which comprises rollers 16, 17and 18 are continuously driven into rotation by motor 15, means must beprovided to only intermittently couple auxiliary shaft 34 to the motorsince the moistening and the card dispensing cycles must only take placeonce in the presence of every successive copy, and secondly there mustbe'pr'ovision for synchronizing operation of the moistening and carddispensing means with the leading edge of each successive copy toadjustably control the position on the copy where the transfer of theprinted matter is effected. I

In accordance with this invention, this is obtained by means of a singlepositive engagement clutch together with a sensing and triggeringcircuit which includes a micro-switch which appears on FIG. 1 of thedrawings. Micro-switch 90 which is a double-throw switch as will bedescribed hereinafter is adapted to open a set of normally closedcontacts'and close a set of normally open contacts under the action ofthe leading edge of every successive copy for thereby providing atriggering signal that can be used for actuating the control means ofthe second transmission.

The second transmission is illustrated in greater details in FIGS. 2, 3and 4. With reference to these Figures, it' will be seen that theauxiliary shaft 34 which carries cam 38 for the moistening means and thecrank 36 for the card dispensing means is held in position by means ofsuitable bushings 101 and 101a in aligned apertures of structure 12. Thefree end of auxiliary shaft 34 supports a gear 102 secured to a drivingtoothed wheel 103 on a phenolic bushing 104. Clearance being providedbetween bushing 104 and auxiliary shaft 34 so as to allow free rotationof the assembly of gear 102 and toothed wheel 103 with respect to theauxiliary shaft. A driven wheel-like element is also freely mounted toauxiliary shaft 34 by means of a bushing 111 and a disc 112 can bedisposed between the adjacent faces of the driving toothed wheel 103 andthe driven element 110 to reduce the friction therebetween. Shaft 34also carries a split ring 115 and a compressed coil spring 116 whichurges the driven element 110 towards the driving toothed wheel 103.

A control knob 120 is keyed to the extremity of auxiliary shaft 34 bymeans ofa suitable set-screw 121 riding along a keyway 123 in the shaft34, and a compression coil spring having one end resting into the bottomof an enlarged bore 131 and the other end coupled to the end ofauxiliary shaft 34 by a screw 132 and washer 133 forces knob 120 towardsdriven element 110. Driven element 110 includes a plurality of closelyspaced apart bores which extend axially and into which a pin 141 securedto the bottom surface of knob 120 can extend.

With this arrangement, driven wheel-like element 110 is interconnectedto auxiliary shaft 34 by means of knob 120 tied to the shaft and bymeans of pin 14] which is carried by the knob and projects into one ofthe axial bores 140 in the driven element 110. In addi' tion, it will beseen that by changing the position of pin 141 and inserting same into adifferent one of axial bores 140, the angular relationship between shaft34 and driven element 110 can be varied, and the purpose of this phaseangle adjustment will become apparent from the following description.

Referring again to FIGSv 2 and 4, gear 102 which is secured to drivingtoothed wheel 103 by means of screws is continuously driven intorotation by means of pinion 151 which is directly coupled with the firsttransmission which drives the copy translating rollers 16, 17 and 18.For example, pinion 151 could be mounted onto a free end of the shaftthat carries roller 16.

In order to interconnect the continuously revolving driving toothedwheel 103 and auxiliary shaft 34 whenever it is desired to effect acomplete cycle of the moistening and card dispensing means, a mechanicalinterconnection of driven element 110 and driving wheel 103 is effectedby means of a pawl system which is carried on the driven wheel-likeelement 110. Pawl means 160 which is apparent from FIG. 4 is betterillustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Pawl means 160 is spring biaised into engagement with the toothedsurface of driving wheel 103 by means of spring 161. Pawl means 160consists of two interconnected members 162, 163 each pivoted to thedriven wheel-like element 110 by means of spaced apart pins 164, 165secured to element 110 and extending axially thereof. The first member162 has a pointed nose 170 which is engageable with the ratchet teeth ondriving wheel 103, and also has a head portion 17] onto which spring 161bears to urge member 162 in the clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 2.Tail portion 173 of member 162 extends towards the other member 163whose head portion 175 is adapted to engage the tail portion 173 of thefirst member 162 to urge the nose portion thereof 170 away from theratchet teeth. Tail portion 177 of the second member 163 provides afinger which can be used to maintain disengagement of pawl 160 withrespect to toothed wheel 103. In fact, it will be seen that clockwisemovement of the second member 162 will induce counter-clockwise pivotingof the first member 162 to move the nose portion 170 thereof away of thetoothing surface of driving member 103. A first pin 180 limites thecounter-clockwise motion of the first member 162 under the action of thesecond member 163 and a second limiting pin 181 limits the pivoting ofthe second member 163 under the action of return spring 161 as shown inFIG. 3.

A solenoid 200 with an associated plunger 201 is secured to thestructure 12 of the addressing machine in such a position to interferewith the tail portion 177 of the second member 163 when the drivenwheel-like element 110 rotates with driving wheel 103 in thecounter-clockwise direction. Engagement of tail portion or finger 177with plunger 201 in its normally extended position causes immediatedisengagement of the nose portion of the first member 162 from theratchet teeth on driving member 103 and in addition this engagement offinger 177 with plunger 201 positively stops driven wheel-like element110.

On the other hand. upon retraction of plunger 201 of solenoid 200 as theresult of a triggering current flow through the winding of solenoid 200frees the tail por tion of finger 177 of pawl means 160 which isimmediately urged into positive engagement with the toothed surface ofdriving member 103 as a result of the clockwise pivoting of the secondmember 162 to the action of spring 161. This in effect mechanicallyinterconnects the driven wheel-like element 110 with continuouslyrotating driving wheel 103 as a result therefore auxiliary shaft 34 isforced to complete a 360 angular displacement in unison with drivingwheel 103. This condition ofpositive engagement is shown in greaterdetail in FIG. 3. However, before driven element 110 has had a chance tocomplete a single revolution, plunger 20] of solenoid 200 has returnedto its normal fully extend position shown in FIG. 2 to pick up finger177 as it comes around with driven element 110 and due to the rotationof element 110 finger 177 is forced to move upwardly to pivot secondmember 163 in a clockwise direction and in so doing cause disengagementof the nose portion 170 from the ratchet teeth of the driving element103. This clockwise movement of the second member 163 being limited bymeans of limit pin 180 which acts upon the first member 162, the plunger201 in effect stops rotation of driven wheel-like element 1 10.

Referring again to the fully engaged condition illustrated in FIG. 3, itis important to ensure that the nose portion 170 will remain completelyin the bottom of the groove formed by adjacent teeth 210, 211 on drivingelement 103 throughout the angular displacement of the driven wheel-likeelement 110, and it is also essential that nose portion 170 be able toeasily come out of the groove upon engagement of finger 177 with plunger201 without damaging of any of the components. This is found achievablewith ratchet teeth defining V- grooves 215 having an opening of aboutCentered upon the radius of driving member 103, and the position ofpivot 164 being substantially perpendicular to the trailing surface ofthe V-groove 216 unto which the nose portion 170 of the second member163 rests.

With this arrangement therefore defining wheel-like element which isfreely mounted onto auxiliary shaft 34 but normally coupled therewith bymeans of the phase angle adjustment knob is normally freed from drivingwheel 103. When a triggering pulse is applied across the winding insolenoid 200, retraction of plunger 201 permits immediateinterconnection of driven wheel-like element 110 and driving wheel 103with the result that element 110 and auxiliary shaft 34 complete anangular displacement of 360 and this en gagement of wheel-like element110 takes place as finger 177 hits plunger 201 which has returned to itsnormal extended position.

The control system for triggering solenoid 200 is illustrated in FIG. 5and comprises the above noted doublethrow switch 90 which normally formsa charging circuit for condensor or capacitor 300 connected across asource of alternating potential 301 which could be 60 cycles 1 10 to 120volts, in series with rectifier 302 and resistor 303. The values of thecomponents in the R-C circuit defined by condensor300 and resistor 303are selected to permit quick charging of the condensor 300 immediatelyupon closing of the contacts into the normally closed position referredto in FIG. 5 by letters NC. In the normally open position (NO) thesecond contact of switch 90 serially connects the charged capacitor 300with the winding of solenoid 200 causing a current pulse to flow throughthe Winding to immediately actuate plunger 201. Hence the leading edgeof copy operates to move the whisker of microswitch 90 from the normallyclosed to the normally open position thereby to cause the solenoid toimmediately trigger and release finger 177 of pawl means of the secondtransmission or positive engagement clutch illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4and consequently as soon as the presence of copy has been sensed bymicroswitch 90 auxiliary shaft 34 which is normally still will startrotating through an angle of 360 and again come to a rest.

This 360 displacement of auxiliary shaft 34 will of course effect acomplete rotation of cam 38 and crank 36 shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 with theresult that both the moistening means 30 and the card dispensing means32 will have effected one complete cycle of operation.

It will be noted that the ratchet teeth on driving wheel 103 seen inFIGS. 2 and 3 should be made as small as possible so as to reduce thepositioning error of the addressing on the successive copy or envelopesand it has been found that the pitch of the toothed surface can bereduced more easily when the V-groovcs 215, 216, etc. define and includean angle of substantially 90.

It should be appreciated that by rotating knob 120 relative to drivenwheel-like element 110 one effectively changes the phase angle ofauxiliary shaft 34 and in effect changes the angular position of shaft34 and of cam 38 and crank 36 mounted thereon at the beginning of eachcycle of operation. In other words, by changing the position of thearrow 400, which is seen in FIG. 2, to the various index numbers 1, 2, 3and 4 which are disposed in a circle on structure 12 adjacent knob whilethe driven wheel-like element 110 is at rest, the position of theaddressed portion of the copy is effectively changed without the help ofany time delay means such as the electronic time delay system shown inUS. Pat. No. 3,230,871 to Kooch et al. dated Jan. 25, 1966 and shown inFIG. 9 of said patent.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed is defined as follows:

1. In an apparatus for printing copy by the known hectographic transferprocess, comprising copy translating means for moving copy along apredetermined path; an electric motor; a first transmission meanscoupled to said motor for continuously driving said copy translatingmeans; printed card holding means for supporting a stack of cards; carddispensing means operable in cycles for dispensing one card in eachcycle; card dispensing actuating means for actuating said carddispensing means; card translating means for moving a dispensed cardalong a predetermined path having a first region wherein the cardconverges toward said copy path, a second region wherein the card meetssaid copy path and a third region diverging from said copy path; anapplicator roller at said second region; a card extractor roller at saidthird region; moistening means for applying moisture to an area of saidcopy including a moisture roller, a moisture roller carrier pivoted at apoint spaced apart from said moisture roller, and moisture rollercarrier actuating means for causing engagement of said moisture rollerwith said area of said Copy during each cycle thereon; and secondtransmission means for driving said moisture roller carrier actuatingmeans and said card dispensing actuating means; and control means forsaid second transmission means; the improvement, wherein said secondtransmission means comprises an auxiliary shaft coupled with saidmoisture roller carrier actuating means and with said card dispensingactuating means in such a manner that one moistening cycle and one carddispensing cycle are completed within substantially less than 360angular displacement of said auxiliary shaft; said second transmissionalso comprising: a single clutch which has a driving toothed wheelmounted for rotation on and relative to said auxiliary shaft andcontinuously rotated by said first transmission means, a drivenwheel-like element coaxial with and intermittently connectable with saiddriving wheel for rotation in unison therewith through an individualcomplete revolution, a pawl pivotally mounted to said driven wheel-likeelement, spring biased into an intermittent engaging position andactuable into a normal disengaging position; said pawl being adapted topositively engage the toothed surface of said driving wheel when in saidengaging position thereby to positively interconnect said driving wheeland said driven wheel-like element said single clutch being the onlyclutch in said apparatus and coupling said auxiliary shaft to said firsttransmission means for actuating said card dispensing means and saidmoisture roller carrier means; said second transmission means furthercomprising phase angle adjusting means interconnecting said drivenwheel-like element and said auxiliary shaft for unison rotation thereof,and for adjustment of the phase angle of said auxiliary shaft rela tiveto said driven wheel-like element; said control means comprising adouble-throw switch actuable by said copy from a normally closedposition to a normally open position, an electrical circuit including acapacitor chargeable when said switch is in its normally closed positionand serially connected with a solenoid when said switch is in itsnormally open position whereby the plunger of said solenoid istemporarily displaced from its normal position immediately uponactuation of said switch by said copy; said pawl including a fingerengageable with the plunger of said solenoid in the normal positionthereof and being freed therefrom upon temporary displacement of saidplunger; and said finger when engaging said plunger being operative tomaintain said pawl in its normal disengaging position.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said toothed surface of saiddriving wheel consists of relatively small ratchet teeth on the outerperiphery of said driving wheel, and wherein the grooves defined byadjacent teeth are V-shaped and their included angle is of the order of3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said pawl consists of twointerconnected members each pivoted to said driven wheel-like element bymeans of two spaced apart pins secured to said wheel-like element andextending axially thereof; the first one of said members being providedwith a pointed nose engageable with said ratchet teeth, a head portion;a spring acting on said head portion urging said nose toward saidratchet teeth, and a tail portion extending toward the other member; thesecond member having a head portion adapted to engage the tail portionof said first member to urge the nose portion thereof away from saidratchet teeth, and a tail portion forming said finger.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the pivot pin of said firstmember is disposed generally perpendicularly to the trailing surface ofthe V-groove into which the nose portion of said first member rests whensaid nose portion engages said toothed surface.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said phase angle adjustingmeans comprises an axially slidable knob mounted to one end of saidauxiliary shaft and keyed thereto against relative rotation and carryingan indexing pin, said driven wheel-like element being freely mounted tosaid auxiliary shaft immediately behind said knob and having a pluralityof closely spaced apart axial bores disposed in a circle such that eachbore is capable of receiving therein the free end of said indexing pin,hence determining said phase angle, said knob including a return springurging said indexing pin into the registering one of said bores, wherebythe connection between said driven wheel-like element is effected bymeans of said keyed knob via said indexing pin.

6. An apparatus for printing material from a master card onto a copypiece comprising:

a. at least a first and a second translating roller,

b. a first nip roller cooperating with said first translating roller.

c. a biased roller cooperating with said second translatingroller,

d. drive means connected to and driving said translat ing rollerswhereby copy pieces are moved along a predetermined path between saidnip roller and said at least first translating roller and said biasedroller and said second translating roller,

e. master card holding means for supporting a stack of master cards,

. card dispensing means operable in cycles for dispensing one mastercard during each cycle,

g. card dispensing actuating means for actuating said card dispensingmeans,

h. card translating means for moving a dispensed card along apredetermined path passing between said biased roller and said secondtranslating roller in contact with a copy piece,

i, a movable moistening means for applying moisture to an area of saidcopy piece,

j. means for causing movement of said moistening means into and out ofengagement with the area of the copy piece during each cycle,

k. a common shaft means rotatable through an angle of 360 forconcurrently operating therewith said actuating and causing means,

. rotatably adjustable means cooperating with said shaft mechanicallyadjusting said actuating and said causing means concurrently for varyingthe actuation of said dispensing means and movement of said moisteningmeans relative to the travel of the copy piece through the apparatus, m.a single clutch coupling said drive means to said common shaft means,said single clutch comprising a drive member and a driven member, saiddrive member being directly and continuously coupled to said drivemeans,

n. switch means adjacent said first translating roller and first niproller for activating said clutch means upon passage of a copy piecethereagainst and causing said shaft to rotate through one cycle. saidshaft being operable to cause operation of said card dispensing means tofeed a master card toward said cooperating biased roller and said secondtranslating roller and simultaneously therewith move said moisteningmeans toward engagement with the copy piece.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said causing means is acam.

8. An apparatus as defined in. claim 6 wherein said actuating means isan eccentrically mounted crank.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said single clutchincludes a continuously rotating wheel on said common shaft, a drivenwheel coaxial with said rotating wheel, a pivotally mounted pawl on oneof said wheels being spring biased into intermittent engagement withtoothed elements on the other of said wheels.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said clutch includes asolenoid operated actuating means for causing operation of said clutchfor coupling and uncoupling of said drive means to said common shaft.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said rotatably adjustablemeans includes indexing means cooperating with said shaft for rotatingsaid shaft a se-

1. In an apparatus for printing copy by the known hectographic transferprocess, comprising copy translating means for moving copy along apredetermined path; an electric motor; a first transmission meanscoupled to said motor for continuously driving said copy translatingmeans; printed card holding means for supporting a stack of cards; carddispensing means operable in cycles for dispensing one card in eachcycle; card dispensing actuating means for actuating said carddispensing means; card translating means for moving a dispensed cardalong a predetermined path having a first region wherein the cardconverges toward said copy path, a second region wherein the card meetssaid copy path and a third region diverging from said copy path; anapplicator roller at said seCond region; a card extractor roller at saidthird region; moistening means for applying moisture to an area of saidcopy including a moisture roller, a moisture roller carrier pivoted at apoint spaced apart from said moisture roller, and moisture rollercarrier actuating means for causing engagement of said moisture rollerwith said area of said copy during each cycle thereon; and secondtransmission means for driving said moisture roller carrier actuatingmeans and said card dispensing actuating means; and control means forsaid second transmission means; the improvement, wherein said secondtransmission means comprises an auxiliary shaft coupled with saidmoisture roller carrier actuating means and with said card dispensingactuating means in such a manner that one moistening cycle and one carddispensing cycle are completed within substantially less than 360*angular displacement of said auxiliary shaft; said second transmissionalso comprising: a single clutch which has a driving toothed wheelmounted for rotation on and relative to said auxiliary shaft andcontinuously rotated by said first transmission means, a drivenwheel-like element coaxial with and intermittently connectable with saiddriving wheel for rotation in unison therewith through an individualcomplete revolution, a pawl pivotally mounted to said driven wheel-likeelement, spring biased into an intermittent engaging position andactuable into a normal disengaging position; said pawl being adapted topositively engage the toothed surface of said driving wheel when in saidengaging position thereby to positively interconnect said driving wheeland said driven wheel-like element said single clutch being the onlyclutch in said apparatus and coupling said auxiliary shaft to said firsttransmission means for actuating said card dispensing means and saidmoisture roller carrier means; said second transmission means furthercomprising phase angle adjusting means interconnecting said drivenwheel-like element and said auxiliary shaft for unison rotation thereof,and for adjustment of the phase angle of said auxiliary shaft relativeto said driven wheel-like element; said control means comprising adouble-throw switch actuable by said copy from a normally closedposition to a normally open position, an electrical circuit including acapacitor chargeable when said switch is in its normally closed positionand serially connected with a solenoid when said switch is in itsnormally open position whereby the plunger of said solenoid istemporarily displaced from its normal position immediately uponactuation of said switch by said copy; said pawl including a fingerengageable with the plunger of said solenoid in the normal positionthereof and being freed therefrom upon temporary displacement of saidplunger; and said finger when engaging said plunger being operative tomaintain said pawl in its normal disengaging position.
 2. Apparatus asdefined in claim 1 wherein said toothed surface of said driving wheelconsists of relatively small ratchet teeth on the outer periphery ofsaid driving wheel, and wherein the grooves defined by adjacent teethare V-shaped and their included angle is of the order of 90*. 3.Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said pawl consists of twointerconnected members each pivoted to said driven wheel-like element bymeans of two spaced apart pins secured to said wheel-like element andextending axially thereof; the first one of said members being providedwith a pointed nose engageable with said ratchet teeth, a head portion;a spring acting on said head portion urging said nose toward saidratchet teeth, and a tail portion extending toward the other member; thesecond member having a head portion adapted to engage the tail portionof said first member to urge the nose portion thereof away from saidratchet teeth, and a tail portion forming said finger.
 4. Apparatus asdefined in claim 3 wherein the pivot pin of said first member isdisposed generally perpendicularlY to the trailing surface of theV-groove into which the nose portion of said first member rests whensaid nose portion engages said toothed surface.
 5. Apparatus as definedin claim 1 wherein said phase angle adjusting means comprises an axiallyslidable knob mounted to one end of said auxiliary shaft and keyedthereto against relative rotation and carrying an indexing pin, saiddriven wheel-like element being freely mounted to said auxiliary shaftimmediately behind said knob and having a plurality of closely spacedapart axial bores disposed in a circle such that each bore is capable ofreceiving therein the free end of said indexing pin, hence determiningsaid phase angle, said knob including a return spring urging saidindexing pin into the registering one of said bores, whereby theconnection between said driven wheel-like element is effected by meansof said keyed knob via said indexing pin.
 6. An apparatus for printingmaterial from a master card onto a copy piece comprising: a. at least afirst and a second translating roller, b. a first nip roller cooperatingwith said first translating roller, c. a biased roller cooperating withsaid second translating roller, d. drive means connected to and drivingsaid translating rollers whereby copy pieces are moved along apredetermined path between said nip roller and said at least firsttranslating roller and said biased roller and said second translatingroller, e. master card holding means for supporting a stack of mastercards, f. card dispensing means operable in cycles for dispensing onemaster card during each cycle, g. card dispensing actuating means foractuating said card dispensing means, h. card translating means formoving a dispensed card along a predetermined path passing between saidbiased roller and said second translating roller in contact with a copypiece, i. a movable moistening means for applying moisture to an area ofsaid copy piece, j. means for causing movement of said moistening meansinto and out of engagement with the area of the copy piece during eachcycle, k. a common shaft means rotatable through an angle of 360* forconcurrently operating therewith said actuating and causing means, l.rotatably adjustable means cooperating with said shaft mechanicallyadjusting said actuating and said causing means concurrently for varyingthe actuation of said dispensing means and movement of said moisteningmeans relative to the travel of the copy piece through the apparatus, m.a single clutch coupling said drive means to said common shaft means,said single clutch comprising a drive member and a driven member, saiddrive member being directly and continuously coupled to said drivemeans, n. switch means adjacent said first translating roller and firstnip roller for activating said clutch means upon passage of a copy piecethereagainst and causing said shaft to rotate through one cycle, saidshaft being operable to cause operation of said card dispensing means tofeed a master card toward said cooperating biased roller and said secondtranslating roller and simultaneously therewith move said moisteningmeans toward engagement with the copy piece.
 7. An apparatus as definedin claim 6 wherein said causing means is a cam.
 8. An apparatus asdefined in claim 6 wherein said actuating means is an eccentricallymounted crank.
 9. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said singleclutch includes a continuously rotating wheel on said common shaft, adriven wheel coaxial with said rotating wheel, a pivotally mounted pawlon one of said wheels being spring biased into intermittent engagementwith toothed elements on the other of said wheels.
 10. An apparatus asdefined in claim 6 wherein said clutch includes a solenoid operatedactuating means for causing operation of said clutch for coupling anduncoupling of said drive means to said common shaft.
 11. An apparatus asdefined in claim 6 wherein said rotatabLy adjustable means includesindexing means cooperating with said shaft for rotating said shaft aselected number of degrees.